Government Shutdown Could Become Longest Ever As Trump Says He ‘Won’t Be Extorted’ By Democrats | EUROtoday

The authorities shutdown is poised to turn out to be the longest ever this week because the deadlock between Democrats and Republicans has dragged into a brand new month. Millions of individuals may lose meals support advantages, well being care subsidies are set to run out and there are few actual talks between the events over easy methods to finish it.

President Donald Trump stated in an interview aired on Sunday that he “won’t be extorted” by Democrats who’re demanding negotiations to increase the Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire on the finish of the 12 months for thousands and thousands of Americans. Echoing congressional Republicans, the president stated on CBS’ “60 Minutes” he’ll negotiate solely when the federal government is reopened.

Trump’s feedback sign the shutdown may drag on for a while as federal employees, together with air site visitors controllers, are set to overlook extra paychecks and there’s uncertainty over whether or not 42 million Americans who obtain federal meals support will be capable of entry the help. Senate Democrats have voted 13 instances in opposition to reopening the federal government, insisting they want Trump and Republicans to barter with them first.

The president stated Democrats “have lost their way” and predicted they’ll capitulate to Republicans.

“I think they have to,” Trump stated. “And if they don’t vote, it’s their problem.”

He additionally reiterated his pleas to Republican leaders to vary Senate guidelines and scrap the filibuster. Senate Republicans have repeatedly rejected that concept since Trump’s first time period, arguing the rule requiring 60 votes to beat any objections within the Senate is important to the establishment and has allowed them to cease Democratic insurance policies once they’re within the minority.

“Republicans have to get tougher,” Trump instructed CBS. “If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want.”

With the 2 events at a standstill, the shutdown, now in its thirty third day and approaching its sixth week, seems prone to turn out to be the longest in historical past. The earlier file was set in 2019, when Trump demanded Congress give him cash for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Trump’s push on the filibuster may show a distraction for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Republican senators who’ve opted as an alternative to remain the course as the results of the shutdown turn out to be extra acute.

Republicans are hoping no less than some Democrats will ultimately give them the votes they want as moderates have been in weekslong talks with rank-and-file Republicans about potential compromises that would assure votes on well being care in alternate for reopening the federal government. Republicans want 5 extra Democrats to cross their invoice.

“We need five with a backbone to say we care more about the lives of the American people than about gaining some political leverage,” Thune stated on the Senate flooring because the Senate left Washington for the weekend on Thursday.

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, stated on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday there’s a gaggle of individuals speaking about ”a path to repair the well being care debacle” and a dedication from Republicans to not fireplace extra federal employees. But it’s unclear if these talks may produce a significant compromise.

Trump stated within the “60 Minutes” interview the Affordable Care Act — typically often known as Obamacare as a result of it was signed and championed by then-President Barack Obama — is “terrible” and if the Democrats vote to reopen the federal government, “we will work on fixing the bad health care that we have right now.”

Democrats really feel otherwise, arguing the marketplaces arrange by the ACA are working as file numbers of Americans have signed up for the protection. But they need to prolong subsidies first enacted through the COVID-19 pandemic so premiums received’t go up for thousands and thousands of individuals on Jan. 1.

“We want to sit down with Thune, with (House Speaker Mike) Johnson, with Trump, and negotiate a way to address this horrible health care crisis,” Senate Democratic chief Chuck Schumer stated final week.

As Democrats have pushed Trump and Republicans to barter, Trump has confirmed little curiosity in doing so. He referred to as for an finish to the Senate filibuster after a visit to Asia whereas the federal government was shut down.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated on “Sunday Morning Futures” on Fox News Channel the president has spoken on to Thune and Johnson in regards to the filibuster. But a spokesman for Thune stated Friday that his place hasn’t modified, and Johnson stated on Sunday that Republicans historically have resisted calling for an finish to the filibuster as a result of it protects them from “the worst impulses of the far-left Democrat Party.”

Trump stated on “60 Minutes” he likes Thune however “I disagree with him on this point.”

The president has spent a lot of the shutdown mocking Democrats, posting movies of House Democratic chief Hakeem Jeffries in a Mexican sombrero. The White House web site has a satirical “My Space” web page for Democrats, a parody primarily based on the social media website that was widespread within the early 2000s. “We just love playing politics with people’s livelihoods,” the web page reads.

Democrats have repeatedly stated that they want Trump to get critical and weigh in. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner stated that he hopes the shutdown may finish “this week” as a result of Trump is again in Washington.

Republicans “can’t move on anything without a Trump sign off,” Warner stated on “Face the Nation” on CBS.

The 35-day shutdown that lasted from December 2018 to January 2019 ended when Trump retreated from his calls for over a border wall. That got here amid intensifying delays on the nation’s airports and a number of missed paydays for a whole lot of 1000’s of federal employees.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on ABC’s “This Week” that there have already been delays at a number of airports “and it’s only going to get worse.”

Many of the employees are “confronted with a decision,” he stated. “Do I put food on my kids’ table, do I put gas in the car, do I pay my rent or do I go to work and not get paid?”

As flight delays across the nation elevated, New York City’s emergency administration division posted on Sunday that Newark Airport was beneath a floor delay due to “staffing shortages in the control tower” and that they have been limiting arrivals to the airport.

“The average delay is about 2 hours, and some flights are more than 3 hours late,” the account posted. “FAA planning notes show a possibility of a full ground stop later if staffing shortages or demand increases.”

Also within the crossfire are the 42 million Americans who obtain SNAP advantages. The Department of Agriculture deliberate to withhold $8 billion wanted for funds to the meals program beginning on Saturday till two federal judges ordered the administration to fund it.

House Democratic chief Jeffries, D-N.Y., accused Trump and Republicans of making an attempt to “weaponize hunger.” He stated that the administration has managed to search out methods for funding different priorities through the shutdown, however is slow-walking pushing out SNAP advantages regardless of the courtroom orders.

“But somehow they can’t find money to make sure that Americans don’t go hungry,” Jeffries stated in an look on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in his personal CNN look Sunday, stated the administration continues to await route from the courts.

“The best way for SNAP benefits to get paid is for Democrats — for five Democrats to cross the aisle and reopen the government,” Bessent stated.

Associated Press author Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.